Abstract
Ethane-1-hydroxy-1, 1-diphosphonate (EHDP) inhibits calcification and bone resorption, in both of tissue cultures and experimental animals, and these effects have been attributed to physicochemical interactions with calcium phosphate crystals. There have also been observations suggesting the involvement of this compound in factors related to cellular metabolism.
We examined the effects of EHDP on alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase activities in bone production and fracture repair of young rats and in skeletal development of mouse fetus, using enzyme-histochemical techniques.
EHDP did not inhibit the alkaline phosphatase activity. This may indicate that inhibition of calcification by EHDP does not occur through an impaired activity of alkaline phosphatase. On the other hand, acid phosphatase activity in the areas of metaphysis was slightly inhibited. Therefore the inhibition of bone resorption by EHDP may be in part due to the interference of EHDP in bone cell metabolism.
